Agenda item

Report No: DEV/FH/16/006

Installation of on farm anaerobic digestion plant to produce biogas with digesters, silage clamps, lagoons, pipeline to gas grid, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

Installation of on farm Anaerobic Digestion plant to produce biogas and digesters, silage clamps, lagoons, pipeline to gas grid, landscaping and associate infrastructure.

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee because it was for a ‘major development’ and raised issues which were in the public interest.

A number of comments had been received from statutory consultees and third parties, including Worlington Parish Council and neighbouring Parish Councils.  A Member site visit had been held prior to the meeting and Officers were recommending that the application be approved as set out in Paragraph 97 of Report No DEV/FH/16/006.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that since publication of the agenda amended plans had been submitted by the applicant which removed the standalone gas compound from the application as this would now be located within the main Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant.

As part of her presentation the Officer outlined a number of additional comments that had been received from the following parties:

·         West Suffolk Tree and Landscape Officer;

·         Environment Agency;

·         Worlington Parish Council;

·         Red Lodge Parish Council;

·         Herringswell Parish Council;

·         Royal Worlington Golf Club; and

·         Historic England.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the comments made by Historic England with reference to the Scheduled Monument of the Bowl Barrow on Chalk Hill which formed part of the application site.  The Officer advised that the applicant had provided a landscape plan to reduce the impact on the Scheduled Monument and this was deemed acceptable.

Members were informed that the application was for a development that would generate renewable energy and, as such, this was given significant weight in line with both local and national policy.

Lastly, the Officer drew attention to the following amendments/additions to the list of conditions set out in Paragraph 97:

1.   Condition No 7 to be amended to read “HGV movements” as opposed to deliveries;

2.   Condition No 16 (contamination remediation strategy) to be removed; and

3.   Additional conditions to be included in respect of:

                     I.        Details of lagoon covers;

                   II.        Protective fencing for trees;

                 III.        Fixing of bat boxes (as recommended by the Environmental Report); and

                 IV.        Recommendations of the Badger Survey to be carried out.

In light of the traffic concerns raised by the Parish Councils Councillor David Bowman asked if it would be possible to amend Condition No 4 to state that no development would commence until the Traffic Management Plan was approved. 

The Case Officer consulted her file of correspondence and confirmed that she did have in writing confirmation from the applicant that they would be happy for this to be conditioned in this way.

Accordingly, it was moved by Councillor David Bowman, seconded by Councillor Ruth Bowman and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that:

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1.   Time

2.   Compliance with approved plans.

3.   Highways – surfacing of access

4.   Highways – Traffic Management Plan; with no development to commence until this is approved

5.   Highways – Construction Delivery Plan

6.   Highways – Geographical extent of feedstock sources plan

7.   Highways – no AD HGV movements to use farm track between Bay Farm and Golf Links Road

8.   Feedstock type

9.   Hours of construction

10.        Control of waste material arising from site preparation and construction

11.        Details of security or flood lights

12.         Sound proofing

13.        Recommendations of Ecology report to be carried out

14.        Archaeology  - report of investigations

15.        Landscaping Implementation

16.        Environment Agency – surface water disposal scheme

17.        Environment Agency – pollution control

18.        Environment Agency – piling, bore holes and foundations

19.        Precise details of materials

20.        Details of lagoon covers

21.        Protective fencing for trees

22.        Fixing of bat boxes (as recommended by the Environmental Report); and

23.        Recommendations of the Badger Survey to be carried out.

Speakers:    Mr Clive Macleod (resident) spoke against the application.

Councillor Rupert Osborn (Worlington Parish Council) spoke against the application.

Mr Charlie Fillingham (applicant) spoke in favour of the application.